Bass unfriendly Notes: How to spot them and what to do

Ever play a sub note so low you might as well be able to feel the room shaking — except, it doesn’t?

That’s often a sign that you struck a bass-unfriendly note. Some pitches just aren’t cut out for the sub territory. They sound needly, or worse, evaporate into your track like an overboiled noodle in broth.

Adding that note an octave higher is a quick fix. You still get the heft of the sub, but now it’s bolstered by a more clearly defined tone that actually cuts through the mix. It’s the equivalent of giving a gangly sidekick a tall, self-assured friend so they can both have more presence at the gym.

Why bother?

Because your audiences don’t just listen to bass; they experience it. If the bass is too low to be picked up, your track sounds weak. By stacking a higher octave on top you retain the rumble but add articulation, giving your bassline some serious guts.

Examples:

Layered the Subbass Notes D1 and Eb1 with a simple sawwave at D2 and Eb2, because the Subbass got completely lost in the Mixdown at this notes. 

Try it in your next session, and watch your bass go from bashful to show-stopping.